Puzzle



Aug. 9, 1960 Filed Oct. 29, 1956 J. ELLMAN PUZZLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR. JUL [U5 EL LMAN.

A TTO/QNE Y.

Aug. 9, 1960 J. ELLIOIAN I 2, 48

PUZZLE Filed Oct. 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JUL IU5 EL LMAN.

BY MM HTTOR/Vff This invention relates to toysand games for children and more particularly, to toys ofan educational variety.

Various games of the puzzle variety and those requiring the placement of certain markersor symbols in a predetermined relationship have become quite popular as educational toys, in that they stimulate creative thinking and planning. Accordingly, an object of this invention is tates t a 1Q to provide a stimulating toy for children that is both 2 educational and amusing and which may be used in independent and group play.

Another object of this invention is to provide ajigsawtype puzzle game having a-plurality of independently arranged pieces thatare secured within a playing board for sliding movement into and out of a desired position, in which the parts are secured against being accidentally disassembled therefrom.

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blocks shown in phantom lines disposed therein and another such block shown in full line'adjacent thereto.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawing, a game toy 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a playing board 12 enclosed within a rigid frame 14. The board 12 includes a plurality of isolated mazes 16 withineach of which are predetermined sliding blocks 20. For purposes of illustration, the playing board is shown to have eight separate mazes 16, each maze of which includes three dissimilar blocks 20a, 20b, 200. It will be recognized, however, that the number of separate mazes on the board and the number of blocks within each maze may be varied depending on the type and complexity of game desired. As is more clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, each block 20 includes a pair of spaced rectangular sections 21, 23, which are secured together in juxtaposed relationship by means of a centrally disposed dowel pin 24. The sections 21, 23, of the block are spaced sufliciently close to each other to securely embrace the playing board therebetween while permitting unlimited sliding and rotational movement of the blocks through the respective mazes.

Each maze follows a tortuous path and includes a feed slot 26, a side slot 27, and a positioning slot 28, all of whichcommunicate With each other, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. While the length and direction of each A still further object of the present invention is to pro- I arrangement for providing an educational and amusement device.

- Still another object of this invention is to provide a 7 game for children having apluralityof independently movable puzzle pieces assembled therein for a limited sliding and rotational movement, that is"simplel in construction, and which will prevent the disassembly orloss of any of the game parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an amusing and educational maze puzzle toy for children having a plurality of diverse mazes in a game board with a plurality of figured pieces arranged therein in a manner that will prevent the disassembly or loss of any of the game parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an amusing and educational toy for children that is simple in construction, attractive in appearance and play, and which may be manufactured in quantity at a relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a toy made in accordance with the present invention, certain of the parts being arranged in a predetermined manner to form a centrally located picture.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the game shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the game shown in Fig. 1, showing the dissimilar markings of the respective parts on the opposite side thereof.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the game frame and side blocks removed.

Fig. 6 is an end view of a board shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a part of the game board together with certain board with the particular slot may vary, it is important that each slot have a terminal point 30 in a predetermined area so that one block in each slot may be moved to the terminal pointand into association with one block of the other such mazes to form a complete picture, diagram, or arrangement of symbols, as the case may be.

It is also necessary that each side slot 27 be long enough to accommodate at least two of the blocks in the associated maze while the third such block is permitted to pass freely through the feed slot 26 and positioning slot 28. Of course, if a greater number of blocks are used in each maze, the side slot 27 must necessarily be longer so as to accommodate all but one of such blocks. The corners 32 adjacent to each angularly related part of the maze are rounded to facilitate the movement of the respective blocks through the several slots of the maze as they are moved from one position to another.

While the blocks have been illustrated in the picture puzzle form, wherein the facing surface of each block has a part of a complete picture, it will be recognized that any other type of symbol, letter, or number, may be used,

depending upon the type of game desired. Similarly, each of the spaced sections 21, 23, of the block may be provided with different markings so that two puzzles or games can be played on the single unit. For example, the top sides of the blocks shown in Fig. 1 each have a part of a picture that can only be associated with certain other ones of the blocks in each maze, so that three complete pictures can be formed with the blocks shown. The bottom side of the blocks, as shown in Fig. 3, is different in that each block is provided with a certain part of a body that may be combined with any one of the other such parts on associated blocks in the other mazes to form different figures. Accordingly, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, a great number of various picture arrangements can be had, and, in the same way, letters or numbers may be substituted for the pictures to provide still further varieties of game play.

In assembling the toy, the blocks are inserted into the feed slots 26 of the respective mazes 16 prior to attaching the frame 14. It is to be noted, that the frame 14 is slightly thicker than the thickness of each block so that the game may be placed on a flat surface and the blocks moved without interference from the surface therebeneath. The game is played by moving predetermined blocks from each maze into the centrally disposed terminal area of each maze so as to form the desired pattern or picture. Of course, in playing the game, certain other blocks in each maze will block the path of movement of the chosen block, in which case, the blocking blocks are moved into the side slots 27 to permit the passage of the desired block thereby. Similarly, certain blocks must be rotated so that they assume the proper direction as they aremoved from one portion of the maze to the other.

Where the blocks are arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 1, where only one block in each maze can be combined with another certain one block in the other mazes to form a picture, the edge 35 of each block in the set can be commonly colored. This will provide three sets of eight blocks each, each set having edges 35 of the same ester. It will, therefore, be recognized that the'game is thus simplified in that the child need only select and move the blocks of the same color to- Wards the meeting area, completely disregarding the picture'or symbol on the face of the block. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, however, such would not be of any advantage in that each block from each maze may be associated with any block from each of the other mazes to provide a picture, the only care required to form the picture being that it is necessary to maintain the blocks in the same upright position;

The frame 14 not only has rigidity but prevents disassembly of any of the blocks from the board. The rigidity of the game is further enhanced by the isolation of each maze from the others in that the board may thereby be formed in one piece without any breaks extending throughout the entire width or length thereof.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the specific forms shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A toy comprising in combination, a playing board having a plurality of isolated mazes, each maze having a feed slot extending inwardly from the outer edge of the board, a side slot intersecting and communicating with said feed slot and a positioning slot having one end communicating with said side slot, all of said positioning slots terminating in a dead end in a common area on said board with their respective terminals spaced apart from each other, a frame enclosing the outer edges of said board, and a similar plurality of selectively interchangeable blocks supported in each of said mazes for limited independent linear and rotational movement and every block in each of said mazes being matched for predetermined association with a corresponding block in an adjacent maze ending in said common area, each of said plurality of blocks in each maze bearing a difierent pictorial illustration of an identical body part, said blocks being selectively and independently movable to said common area for cooperative assembly with a block from each of the other mazes to form one of several complete pictures.

2. A toy comprising in combination, a frame, a playing board secured within said frame, said board defining a plurality of independent non-communicating mazes, all of said mazes beginning at the, frame and terminating in a common area of said board with their respective terminals spaced apart from each other, an equal number of play pieces slidably supported Within each of said mazes for movement into said common area for cooperative assembly therein, each of the several play pieces in each maze bearing a difierent representation of a similar fragment of one of several complete illustrations, a single play piece from each ma ze being selectively movable to the terminal of its respective I naze in the common meeting area to combine interchangeably with the single selected play piece from each of the other mazes to form a complete picture. 3. A toy as set forth in claim 2, wherein each said maze has an interconnected feed slot, a positioning slot, and a side slot, said side slot intersecting said continuous feed and positioning slots, and said positioning slots constituting the terminal portions of the mazes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,703 Carter Aug. 2.1 1894 642,374 Shaffer Jan. 30, 1900 795,487 Courtney July 25, 1905 1,191,135 Moore July 11, 1916 1,975,667 Roberts Oct. 2, 1934 

